Having serious doubts...

[clem456]

Let me second the motion for a pilgrimage.
My wife and I have made a couple small pilgrimages to a basilica and shrine to Our Lady of Consolation. It’s about an hour away. A pilgrimage is good for a couple reasons:

It requires a commitment to go there. That is part of faith building…making a choice for God.

Local distractions can be forgotten there.

Typically there are powerful liturgical, musical, and architectural factors at a shrine which can aid in contemplation and prayer. Don’t discount these as being “external”. They can be very helpful in lifting one to God.

I am not one to have “experiences”, but I must confess that when we visited this shrine last Sunday I was very low and feeling rather hopeless for a couple reasons I don’t have time to get into. At this shrine there are crutches and pictures of the healed and pictures of people who had miraculous cures from hopeless conditions. There was a large glass bowl in which people write intentions and stuff them in. I wrote an intention and tucked it in the bowl and a burden was lifted from me. It was a very powerful experience of grace.

 

[Robert_Sock]

Hi all. I have had doubts and fears about certain things regarding the church for a long time. But these doubts are now seeming reasonable to me. I fear things aren’t what they appear. I fear the current state of the church and world in general. This is more of a statement than question.

Honest doubt is allowable! I had it when I first became religious. I was so bad that I would rather have been caught in a porn shop rather being seen in a Catholic church. Have the doubts, but be sure to hang on to Catholicism!

 

[scoobydoo6v92]

I know this guy who I got to know when I was training this lady’s horses. He was a salesman and I got to know him and used his services from time to time when I was with this lady He lives fairly close to my home. He needed some electrical work done and I used to do that for a living, This guy got a divorce that emotionally killed him, he lost his home, his carport fell on his only car and did a lot of damage, he hasn’t been able to see his kids for three years, he is broke and his life is hell and he also was arrested because he was falsely accused misusing funds that he got for his kids by the social welfare, and he lost his law license and he is in his 60s to ad insult to injury the electrical company is giving him a real hard time since he did the work himself as I am not licensed in Kansas City Mo to practice as an electrician so I had to direct him as he did the work himself, he has no A/C and only 110v of power and he has a dog that is dying. He returned to the Church and is a Eucharistic minister and goes to daily Mass. He has hope and he has faith. I look at him, and wish I had his patience.

 

[fred_conty]

Hi all. I have had doubts and fears about certain things regarding the church for a long time. But these doubts are now seeming reasonable to me. I fear things aren’t what they appear. I fear the current state of the church and world in general. This is more of a statement than question.

What you may be fearing and doubting is just how the church and the average catholic will servive in the downward turn the morals this country has taken. I don’t think the long list of these is necessary starting a hundred years ago. How will catholics be able to survive in the hog swirl of filth our children will be living in. We are being forced to accept and support laws that are immoral, and more are on the horizen.

The Fathers of this country had faith which is now being ignored and trampled upon.

So don’t worry that you are alone, for you aren’t.

Former Pope Ratzinger once gave out his opinion that the church would be reduced in size and ignored. Then when the world realized it’s mistake in the mess it created, people will once more look to the church for direction. But that may be a ways down the road.

Steve Ray’s opinion was that in 40 years we may very well have persecution in this country.
That isn’t gospel but it sounds very logical following the way the wind is blowing.

Just my opinions.

 

[Samson01]

What you may be fearing and doubting is just how the church and the average catholic will servive in the downward turn the morals this country has taken. I don’t think the long list of these is necessary starting a hundred years ago. How will catholics be able to survive in the hog swirl of filth our children will be living in. We are being forced to accept and support laws that are immoral, and more are on the horizen.

The Fathers of this country had faith which is now being ignored and trampled upon.

So don’t worry that you are alone, for you aren’t.

Former Pope Ratzinger once gave out his opinion that the church would be reduced in size and ignored. Then when the world realized it’s mistake in the mess it created, people will once more look to the church for direction. But that may be a ways down the road.

Steve Ray’s opinion was that in 40 years we may very well have persecution in this country.
That isn’t gospel but it sounds very logical following the way the wind is blowing.

Just my opinions.

Hi Fred Conty. I don’t think it will be even 40 years. My concerns are with the validity of some Sacraments. Most think that in the great tribulation that the antichrist will go to the temple and declare himself god, (desolation of abomination). Approved mystic Jehenney wrote that the beginning of the three days starts on a Thursday coinciding with a Eucharistic feast, then a Friday that coincides with the Cross, and then a Saturday that coincides with our Lady. It sure sounds like an Easter to me. Our Lord is in repose, hell on earth ending Saturday night, an Easter sunrise. Will there be a valid Sacrament at that time? My guess is no. It upholds the world as writing by the Saints. So back to the temple. How do you think the devil declares himself god? I will not go further into the subject but this is the root of my fears and the fruit I have experienced only reinforces it.

 

[JRKH]

Hi Fred Conty. I don’t think it will be even 40 years. My concerns are with the validity of some Sacraments. Most think that in the great tribulation that the antichrist will go to the temple and declare himself god, (desolation of abomination). Approved mystic Jehenney wrote that the beginning of the three days starts on a Thursday coinciding with a Eucharistic feast, then a Friday that coincides with the Cross, and then a Saturday that coincides with our Lady. It sure sounds like an Easter to me. Our Lord is in repose, hell on earth ending Saturday night, an Easter sunrise. Will there be a valid Sacrament at that time? My guess is no. It upholds the world as writing by the Saints. So back to the temple. How do you think the devil declares himself god? I will not go further into the subject but this is the root of my fears and the fruit I have experienced only reinforces it.

But what is it that you “fear”…do you fear the events coming or do you fear your own ability to remain faithful to God even to the point of death?

The former is useless worry for it is is worrying about the inevitable.
If it is the latter, then this is a legitimate worry and one that I’m sure most of us share.

The way to combat this is to establish a proper focus. By that I mean it is best to keep you eye on the goal and to move toward that goal by growing in holiness.
Spiritual “strength training” as it were.

Peace
James

 

[Samson01]

But what is it that you “fear”…do you fear the events coming or do you fear your own ability to remain faithful to God even to the point of death?

The former is useless worry for it is is worrying about the inevitable.
If it is the latter, then this is a legitimate worry and one that I’m sure most of us share.

The way to combat this is to establish a proper focus. By that I mean it is best to keep you eye on the goal and to move toward that goal by growing in holiness.
Spiritual “strength training” as it were.

Peace
James

Neither. I fear being deceived. If it was happening right now, there is not one human on Earth that would know it, not one.

 

[clem456]

Neither. I fear being deceived. If it was happening right now, there is not one human on Earth that would know it, not one.

So you may be deceived. Happens to me all the time and there’s not much I can do about it cause I’m not God and don’t have his perfect understanding.

Put one foot in front of the other, say “Jesus I trust in you”, and he will complete all that is lacking in you, IF you will trust him. We are not called to be perfect in any way, we are called to be faithful. Trust.

 

[JRKH]

Neither. I fear being deceived. If it was happening right now, there is not one human on Earth that would know it, not one.

If you fear being deceived then I suggest that you actually DO fear not being able to remain faithful to God.

As I suggested…the antidote to this is maintaining proper focus. With your eye firmly on our Lord, and moving forward on the path of Love, we can avoid being deceived to any great extent. We can certainly avoid deliberately turning our back on God.

Peace
James

 

[JRKH]

So you may be deceived. Happens to me all the time and there’s not much I can do about it cause I’m not God and don’t have his perfect understanding.

Put one foot in front of the other, say “Jesus I trust in you”, and he will complete all that is lacking in you, IF you will trust him. We are not called to be perfect in any way, we are called to be faithful. Trust.

 

[eschator83]

I think moments of doubt are the only logical result for a human trying to undertand and think through the Mysteries that God has presented us about Himself and His Will. Take comfort in the words of Chesterton in Orthodoxy that it is only the lunatic who is fully sure of himself and his plans.

 

[fred_conty]

Hi Fred Conty. I don’t think it will be even 40 years. My concerns are with the validity of some Sacraments. Most think that in the great tribulation that the antichrist will go to the temple and declare himself god, (desolation of abomination). Approved mystic Jehenney wrote that the beginning of the three days starts on a Thursday coinciding with a Eucharistic feast, then a Friday that coincides with the Cross, and then a Saturday that coincides with our Lady. It sure sounds like an Easter to me. Our Lord is in repose, hell on earth ending Saturday night, an Easter sunrise. Will there be a valid Sacrament at that time? My guess is no. It upholds the world as writing by the Saints. So back to the temple. How do you think the devil declares himself god? I will not go further into the subject but this is the root of my fears and the fruit I have experienced only reinforces it.

I have a different version of what will take place from St. Bernadette. It isn’t the end of the world, but rather a bad time for nations, but not the end.

getmeprepared.com/more-heavenly-warnings-lourdes-akita-padre-pio.html

“On the eve of the year 2000 a final clash between the followers of Mohammed and the Christian nations will happen. In a horrible battle, 5,650,451 soldiers will loose their life and a bomb with great impact will be thrown onto a city in Persia.” “At the end, the sign of the Cross will conquer and all Muslims will embrace the Christian Faith. Great wealth will follow and the Lord will pour out His blessings over the faithful.” Poverty, disease and hunger have an end, every tenth person will have the power to heal. “The 21st Century will be known as the Second Golden Age of mankind”, the seer concluded.​

What you are reading of Jehenney is something from a mystic. Mystics are usually very holy people, but the details of their prophecies I have noticed disagree with other mystics. I think what they are doing is just painting a picture of what is coming, but all those details are not necessarily accurate but rather just giving a sense of what will happen. So I wouldn’t get lost in taking every little thing they say as factual, just the bigger picture.

Now from what St. Bernadette said who was a mystic, it seems to me that this is possible as we see what is taking place in our world. And of course the Second Golden Age of mankind sounds rather promising.

Just some thoughts.​

May God bless and keep you. May God’s face shine on you. May God be kind to you and give you peace.

 

[Sailor_Kenshin]

Hi fallensoldier, not sure I can advise. I’m detaching culture, emotions, preconceptions and trying to weigh things out. In my case, it is not looking like the church is going to be in my future. I don’t think there is a sanctuary left on this world. Not sure what is going on, but something is not right.

A lot of us are feeling that ‘something is not right.’

 

[scoobydoo6v92]

A lot of us are feeling that ‘something is not right.’

yes the fig tree that Jesus talks about is beginning to be tender and I feel that he is coming in our lifetime. it is imminent. and I can’t wait.

 

[Sailor_Kenshin]

yes the fig tree that Jesus talks about is beginning to be tender and I feel that he is coming in our lifetime. it is imminent. and I can’t wait.

Not me. Too fearful of condemnation, don’t want to see blood in the streets.

 

[scoobydoo6v92]

well I can’t see how much longer things will last. there is blood in the streets now. and more and more school shootings more terrorism and more atheism. But God in his mercy will prevail. I am not afraid of the events. I am afraid of God’s anger and me. I beg God everyday to please judge me with mercy not anger. I beg him that incase I get hit head on by one of these tractor trailers that go 90 on these two lane roads in SW Mo. I could have a stroke or a heart attack so I BEG God the son Jesus the Christ to please judge me with love and mercy, with the fact in mind that I am weak and sinful.

 

[Sailor_Kenshin]

I would not want to see my worst enemy subjected to the horrors to come. I don’t know why others are so eager.

 

[scoobydoo6v92]

I would not want to see my worst enemy subjected to the horrors to come. I don’t know why others are so eager.

I don’t know, Death is no bargain either I had a girl friend once that was a Pentecost, and she always said “I’d much rather fly than die.” and I kinda feel the same way. I hope to be in the generation that is the last. I also hope the second coming happens in my parents lifetime . that is my hope as well. As far as times to come, life isn’t a bed of roses and tired of the same ole same ole. and I think a lot of people are like minded and that is my opinion as to why people are eager to see it cause we are all tired of this world the way it is.

 

[Sailor_Kenshin]

I don’t know, Death is no bargain either I had a girl friend once that was a Pentecost, and she always said “I’d much rather fly than die.” and I kinda feel the same way. I hope to be in the generation that is the last. I also hope the second coming happens in my parents lifetime . that is my hope as well. As far as times to come, life isn’t a bed of roses and tired of the same ole same ole. and I think a lot of people are like minded and that is my opinion as to why people are eager to see it cause we are all tired of this world the way it is.

Nope, still don’t get it. Don’t get why anyone claims to want to see the end times. I feel that we may be in the beginning of the end times, but why wish horror and suffering on ANYONE?

It’s almost like people who wish for the end times want to take the reins from God.

 

[scoobydoo6v92]

Nope, still don’t get it. Don’t get why anyone claims to want to see the end times. I feel that we may be in the beginning of the end times, but why wish horror and suffering on ANYONE?

It’s almost like people who wish for the end times want to take the reins from God.

I don’t know I like the fact the lion will lay with the lamb and weapons will be turned into plowshares. No more death we will be changed and meet the Lord in the air and the Heaven and the Earth will become one. It will happen someday why not in our lifetime. I am just saying I am not afraid as I have no choice of either the second coming or natural death. I can’t stop either one.